Artist/Maker/Manufacturer/Founder: Lima Locomotive Works
Material/Medium/Support: steel, cast-iron
Earliest Production Date and Latest Production Date: 1923
Dimension (H x W x D in centimeters): Height: 400 cm, Length: 1230 cm, Weight: 51120.7 kg
Accession # 1974.0755.001
Institution Name: The Canadian Science and Technology Museum
Transcript
Description
The Shay Geared Steam Locomotive, one of one hundred and sixteen known to remain worldwide (another five questionable and another six Willamette style Shays), was originally conceived by the American lumber merchant Ephraim Shay. The patent was sold to Lima Machine Works (eventually Locomotive Works Inc.) of Lima, Ohio who refined the concept and produced 2,768 Shays over a period of 67 years (1878-1945). The museum’s Shay is composed of parts from two locomotives, one constructed in 1923, and the other in 1925. Both were constructed for the Merrill & Ring Lumber Co., Ltd and used in forestry operations at Theodosia Arm, British Columbia. The Shay was branded as the “strong man of the woods” because of its distinctive and unique mechanical workings, making it highly efficient in the logging industry. Immediately noticeable is the Shay’s offset boiler to the left, positioned there in order to make room for the three cylinder engine mounted vertically on the right. The engine’s pistons turn the crank shaft which is connected on both ends by universal and slip joints to the line shafts on the front and rear trucks. These transmit power to both axles on each truck by way of bevel gearing. Thus, all wheels are driven and produce tractive – or pulling – force of 22,580 pounds (10, 242 Kg), allowing the Shay to move along the steep grades of British Columbia’s mountainous terrain while hauling substantial loads. With its flexible (pivoting and rotating) trucks, extra wide tires on each wheel and all axles powered design, the Shay Geared Steam Locomotive was able to negotiate the unrefined forestry railways that would easily stop or derail a conventional rod locomotive.
LOGGING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: ENGINEERING FEATS AND ARTISTIC INTERVENTIONS
Silvia Sorbelli,
M.A. Art History, Concordia University
From the 1840s into the 1930s the railroad was fundamental in the development of the logging industry…
This essay was written by an M.A. student in a Museum Practice seminar in the Department of Art History, Faculty of Fine Arts, Concordia University. The seminar was taught by Dr. Loren Lerner with the assistance of Dina Vescio, a M.A. graduate of the program.
Jackson & Route 329 South
Jonas St. Michael,
2009. Digital photograph.
Jonas St. Michael is a Montreal artist currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography …
This artwork, inspired by the national treasure, was created by a student artist in the Department of Studio Arts (Photography) under the supervision of Marisa Portolese, Assistant Professor in Studio Arts (Photography), Faculty of Fine Arts, Concordia University.
